Paleo Pumpkin Bars Recipe {Paleo, Gluten-Free} - My Natural Family (2024)

Rebecca Baron 20 Comments

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These Paleo pumpkin bars is way easier to make than pumpkin pie. I've been eating Paleo, off and on, for at least 10 years - before there was even such a thing. I very rarely eat dessert. It's just not necessary for me anymore. Plus, it's just extra work, because it's not like I can eat any desserts anyone in my family makes or that they have at the store.

Paleo Pumpkin Bars Recipe {Paleo, Gluten-Free} - My Natural Family (1)

But I'm determined to make the holidays differently this year. I'm going to make these and share them. That way I can eat what everyone else is eating - and I won't eat them all myself! What do you do for dessert during the holidays when you are on a special diet, like Paleo, grain-free or raw? Do you skip dessert, make something just for you, or make something for everyone?

The crust is made with pecans and dates. The filling layer is almost a mousse/chiffon texture and is made by pureeing pumpkin puree, dates, coconut oil, etc. They have a very luxurious texture and almost seem like they have gelatin in them, even though they don't. The ‘Whipped cream’ on top is made with the thick coconut cream found in the top of a can of coconut milk *, lightly sweetened with honey.

These are best served very cold as the coconut oil is part of what binds them and needs to be chilled for that to work to maximum effect.

I would love to know if you try this recipe. Please comment below and let me know what you think or tell me what other Paleo baked goods you like that are made with pumpkin.

Paleo Pumpkin Bars Recipe {Paleo, Gluten-Free} - My Natural Family (2)

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Paleo Pumpkin Bars Recipe {Paleo, Gluten-Free} - My Natural Family (3)

No-Bake Paleo Pumpkin Bars Recipe

★★★★★5 from 1 review

  • Author: Rebecca Baron
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 180 minutes
  • Total Time: 205 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: Paleo
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Description

Pumpkin Bars Recipe {Paleo, Gluten-Free, Clean Eating, Dairy-Free} - I'm sick of not eating what everyone else is having, so I'm going to make these and share with everyone.

Ingredients

Scale

FOR THE CRUST:

  • 1 heaping cup Pecans
  • ¼ cup Almond Flour *
  • ¼ cup Shredded Coconut * (I use the finely shredded unsweetened variety by Bob’s Red Mill…not the sweetened shredded coconut *)
  • 8 Dates (should be soft)
  • ¼ tsp Ground Ginger
  • ½ tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Molasses
  • 2 Tbl Coconut Oil

FOR THE FILLING:

  • 1 ½ cup Pumpkin Puree (some pumpkin purees are more watery than others- use one with as little water as possible the firmer the better)
  • 12 Dates
  • ½ cup Coconut Oil
  • ½ cup Coconut Milk * (canned)
  • 1 ½ tsp Vanilla
  • 1 ½ Tbl Honey
  • ¼ tsp Allspice
  • 1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

FOR THE WHIPPED CREAM TOPPING:

Instructions

FOR THE CRUST:

  1. Line an 8x8 baking dish with tin foil or plastic wrap.
  2. Add the pecans, almond flour, and shredded coconut to bowl of a food processor. Process until the pecans resemble small, coarse crumbs.
  3. Add the dates, ginger, cinnamon, molasses, and coconut oil to the nut mixture and process until the dates are chopped fine enough to hold the crust together. Scoop the dough into the prepared pan and press evenly over the bottom.

FOR THE FILLING:

  1. Add all ingredients to a high speed blender or food processor. Blend together until very smooth. This shouldn’t be too hard in a high speed blender (I use a Vitamix *), but you may need to puree for a bit longer in a regular food processor. The mixture should have no lumps and be a smooth, fluffy consistency.
  2. Spoon the mixture over the crust and smooth the top. Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours, or overnight.
  3. Once chilled, you should be able to lift the bars (carefully out of the pan by lifting them by the tin foil or plastic wrap and sliding onto the counter.
  4. Cut into bars. Top each bar with a dollop of coconut cream topping and a dash of cinnamon.

FOR THE WHIPPED CREAM TOPPING:

  1. Place the coconut cream and the honey in a mixing bowl. Beat together with an electric mixer until combined.
  2. Spoon a dollop of cream over each pumpkin bar. Dust each bar with a dash of cinnamon. Serve chilled.

Keywords: grain-free, no-bake, Paleo, homemade, healthy

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  • Paleo Desserts Index
  • Paleo Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
  • Paleo Pumpkin Pie Recipe
  • Paleo Apple Crisp Recipe

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Denise Amodeo

    Hi! A friend from my place of work informed me about being on a ketogenic diet! So I came to the library today,
    specifically to look & browse for recipes so that I could learn to eat healthier! I found a chicken curry recipe & Paleo
    pumpkin bars recipe that I can hardly wait to make!

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      I would love to know if you liked the recipe!

      Reply

  2. Deb

    Wonderful recipes without oats ,corn or rice which my body can not tolerate.....

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      Glad to help!

      Reply

  3. Stephanie

    My mother and I made these for Thanksgiving this year, they were absolutely delicious! 🙂

    Reply

  4. julie

    can I sub the almond flour in the crust with a sprouted wheat flour?

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      Sorry, but those flours are very different.

      Reply

  5. DD

    Just confused about the filling. When I buy coconut milk ( canned) it's usually cream on top with the thin milk on bottom, for the 1/2 cup coconut milk in the filling, am I using just the thin watery part of the can?
    Thx

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      Sorry it is a little confusing you should use the thick milk.

      Reply

    • Debbie

      Put the can of Coconut milk in the refrigerator overnight. This will help with the separation. Let the cream warm up a bit before mixing.

      Reply

  6. Alexandra

    I'm sorry to say, but these still are not vegan. Vegan is absolutely NO ANIMAL BYPRODUCTS. And this includes honey. Perhaps swapping out the honey for agave nectar? Then it will be vegan.

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      Thanks for the comment, we looked at it and fixed things so it doesn't say it is Vegan.

      Reply

  7. Barrie

    I love pumpkin and eat it year round. I've been making 98% paleo recipes and feel so much better. This looks so good and fairly easy. Something to try this weekend.

    Reply

  8. Sarah L

    I think these would be a great addition to my dessert book. Thanks.

    Reply

  9. Amy Netzel

    These sound delicious! I've never worked with tapioca flour, but I'm familiar with everything else. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  10. caroline

    Love these! Can't wait to try this paleo recipe. Oh pumpkin season!

    Reply

  11. Thalia @ butter and brioche

    These pumpkin bars look so incredibly delicious - I love that they are paleo especially!

    Reply

  12. patty

    This recipe sounds delicious but I am a little confused. Above the recipe you mentioned that this is vegan but the crust recipe here has butter and an egg. Could you by any chance post the recipe for the vegan crust. Thanks so much.

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      Thank you for bringing this to our attention. After investigation we were able to find the problem. I have fixed the recipe and it is now Vegan and correct once again. Thank you for your help and patience.

      Reply

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Paleo Pumpkin Bars Recipe {Paleo, Gluten-Free} - My Natural Family (2024)

FAQs

Is pumpkin OK on Paleo? ›

Pumpkin is a paleo-friendly ingredient. Each recipe calls for pure pumpkin so it's a whole food with nothing extra in it. A pumpkin is a tuber and is a great ingredient to use if you follow a paleo diet.

Is pumpkin lectin free? ›

Seeds and skins of pumpkins are lectin loaded, so of course we won't eat them. When canned, pumpkins have rinds and seeds removed in the process. If you're making pumpkin pie just use a good organic canned puree or, better yet, make your own. And pressure cooking your pumpkin ensures the lectins are removed.

Is pumpkin an inflammatory food? ›

β-carotene present in pumpkin is an anti-inflammatory agent as it decreases the skin cancer which occurs due to sunlight whereas α-carotene is considered responsible to prevent aging, growth of tumor and preventing the chance of developing cataracts in eye.

What are the symptoms of too much lectin? ›

The Problem With Lectins

The most publicized accounts report severe reactions in people eating even small amounts of raw or undercooked kidney beans. They contain phytohaemagglutinin, a type of lectin that can cause red blood cells to clump together. It can also produce nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, and diarrhea.

What cancels out lectins? ›

Active lectins are what's found in raw plants. But boiling, baking, pressure-cooking and soaking can deactivate those lectins, so they're not going to have the same effect as they would if you ate them raw. Fermentation, sprouting and removing peels and seeds can also reduce the amount of active lectin in plant foods.

What are the worst foods for lectins? ›

These six foods are some of the worst sources of lectins in the American diet when consumed raw.
  1. Raw Kidney Beans. Red kidney beans are a great source of plant-based protein and they are a low-glycemic-index food. ...
  2. Peanuts. ...
  3. Whole Grains. ...
  4. Raw Soybeans. ...
  5. Raw Potatoes.

What vegetables are not allowed on the paleo diet? ›

These are beans, lentils, and peas. Legumes are not paleo because they were only introduced into the human diet about 5,000 to 7,000 years ago. Legumes are difficult to digest and can contain unhealthy fats.

What vegetables are paleo compliant? ›

Foods to eat on the paleo diet

Fish and seafood: salmon, trout, haddock, shrimp, shellfish, etc (choose wild-caught if you can) Eggs: may be free-range, pastured, or omega-3 enriched. Vegetables: broccoli, kale, peppers, onions, carrots, tomatoes, etc.

Is Sweet Potato allowed in paleo? ›

Yes — sweet potatoes are generally considered a paleo-approved food, however, some paleo dieters prefer to limit their consumption to avoid consuming too many carbohydrates that spike their blood sugar levels.

What three foods are excluded from the paleo diet? ›

These foods are not permitted on the paleo diet:
  • Cereal grains.
  • Legumes (peanuts, beans, lentils, tofu)
  • Refined sugar.
  • Processed foods.
  • Soda and sweetened beverages.
  • Refined vegetable oils.
  • Salt.
  • Artificial sweeteners.
Jul 12, 2023

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